The Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Forest Research and Training (UWIFoRT successfully conducted a five-day training on Species Distribution Modeling (SDM) using Maxent and R at Lamai Goempa, Bumthang, from 9–13 March 2026. The training brought together 32 forestry officials from functional divisions, protected areas, and divisional forest offices across the country to strengthen their technical capacity in biodiversity conservation and spatial analysis.

During the training, participants were introduced to the theoretical foundations of Ecological Niche Modeling (ENM) and Species Distribution Modeling (SDM) and received hands-on experience using the statistical software R and the Maxent modeling platform. The sessions covered key components such as compiling and processing species occurrence data, sourcing and preparing environmental variables, and conducting spatial analyses necessary for building reliable species distribution models.

Participants also learned advanced techniques, including environmental variable processing, calibration of Maxent models, model evaluation, and variable selection using statistical methods such as correlation analysis and Variance Inflation Factor (VIF). The final sessions focused on interpreting model outputs and mapping results to support evidence-based conservation planning.

The training, which is funded by Bhutan for Life (BFL), concluded with a competency assessment followed by the awarding of certificates to participants who completed the program.